Need an MRI on my brain ...

Echodelta

Member
Hi everyone,

I know I just updated my reconstructive foot surgery prayer thread. I have another prayer request. Here's a brief summary:

Last year, I woke up one morning with a slight hearing loss in my left ear as well as the left side of my head feeling "funny." I went to the doctor who prescribed a decongestant. After 3 days, the hearing returned as well as my head cleared up. Earlier this year, it happened again but was gone after a day. Almost 2 weeks ago, it happened again and was much worse. My left ear had a moderate hearing loss. I could not understand conversation if someone spoke from the left side. It sounded like my ear was in a "wind tunnel." Ringing began a couple days later. Music sounded "tinny" as I could not longer hear low frequencies (bass tones). The left side of my head felt very weird.

I went to the doctor who immediately referred me to a hearing specialist. I was put on a steroid. I took a hearing test and the results were shocking:

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The squares represent my left ear and green is normal.

I was then referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist. After an examination and a blood test, he ruled out congestion and infection. He said the cause is likely due to a non-malignant tumor between my inner ear and the brain. This Thursday, I'm having an MRI of my brain. He said if a tumor is found, nothing can be done because to attempt to remove it would result in complete hearing loss. Either way, I could eventually lose all hearing.

Right now, the steroid is helping to return hearing. It's not 100% though. Mornings and late evenings are when I noticed the reduced hearing again.

This is just another life event in 2015. I've had so many. From the deaths of family members, to my feet, to other stuff that has occurred that I haven't requested prayers for, I give this to the Lord. It keeps me sane. But if members here can pray for an answer to this hearing loss, I'd appreciate it. If I have to lose hearing in my left ear, so be it. My faith remains in the Lord. Thank you, Ed
 
Been keeping you in my prayers and will add this in.

Just reminds me that whether doctors kill or cure us our mortality is really completely in God's hands as our faith should be too.
 
Further prayers. I too have hearing loss and know the adjustment can be made.
 
Thanks for the prayers. Tomorrow is the day. I'm trying to not let it get to me but it is. The steroids alone keep me up at night along with other side effects. I can't wait to get off them.
 
Praying for peace and healing. I've had pain issues off and on for years, so I'm familiar with the struggle to be content with the health you have. It's a tough battle and I admit that I probably take greater comfort in the promise of a life in the presence of Christ and without pain than most people my age (who probably just think I'm morbid :)).
 
Good news: no tumor. However, something else showed up on the MRI. My primary care doctor said it's either an autoimmune disorder or something called, "thinning of the bone." He suggested to get a temporal lobe CT scan. I'm waiting to get another appointment with my ear, nose, and throat specialist to discuss this as well as the MRI. Hopefully this takes place in November. I do not want this to interfere with my upcoming foot surgery in December. Getting that surgery takes precedence over my hearing problems. The steroids have diminished the symptoms but haven't completely eliminated. Even yesterday, my left ear had this machining background noise in it. Plus I'm almost finished taking them. It remains to be seen whether the symptoms kick back in. Thanks for the prayers and comments. It is much appreciated.
 
Hi everyone,

I had a new hearing test this past Wednesday. Good news is that the hearing in my left ear is normal now. I could certainly tell before having it. Sounds are no longer muffled, no more "wind tunnel" and music isn't tinny or metallic sounding anymore. I attribute the hearing improvement to the meds and prayers :) A few symptoms remain: ear still feels plugged & there's a constant humming sound which is most noticeable in the morning and at night. Plus sounds are a little amplified now. For example I went to see the Martian at the movie theater and had to use an ear plug in my left ear. Last Friday at a local restaurant, the ambient sound of everyone talking caused discomfort in both ears.

I had a CT scan last Monday. My doctor emailed the results on Wednesday. This is disconcerting and confusing :) :

Your CT showed some focal bony dehiscence at the roof of the left superior semicircular canal. Also, there is significant bony thinning, but no dehiscence at the roof of the right superior semicircular canal. I do not think that this finding is related to the sudden hearing loss you had. These findings may just mean incidental findings due to the MRI for your sudden hearing loss. I do not know if these findings are responsible for the dizzy sensation you reported. I can refer you to an otologist (an ENT doctor who sub-specializes in ears) if you would like to get a second opinion and further recommendation regarding this.

I've spoken with this doctor several times about my other symptoms and he continues to ignore them. Plus I've dealt with vertigo occurrences since 1998. Last year was my worst with several over the course of the year which prompted trips to the doctor. From my own research I've made over the past month, a "bony dehiscence" in the ear means that there's an opening in the superior semicircular canal which is normally intact. And it seems like this will eventually occur in my right ear due to the loss of bone. Sometimes I have pain in my right ear and for awhile, there was always this type of "pressure" coming from it. Since I now have the time to do it due to my postponed foot operation, I will seek a 2nd opinion just for a definitive answer. Plus I'm wondering if I'll eventually go deaf.

Thank you for the prayers.
Ed
 
I can't help but wonder if some of the medication for your feet could have contributed to the bone loss. They probably don't have a lot of studies on combined or prolonged use of medication. A quick google shows "gentamicin, an antibiotic commonly used for systemic infections has the side effect of knocking the vestibular structure out of commission". That's not what you have at all, because it's mentioned for Meniere's disease, but if one medication can do it another might too. I think you said you were too young for osteoporosis but steroids can cause bone loss as well. Hopefully you'll be able to get some answers from the next doctor :/ . Still pulling praying for you.
 
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I have a small update. I have yet to see another doctor for a 2nd opinion. The reason is the new doctor requested that I take another hearing test. Unfortunately the entire month of December was ruled out so the test is set for this Friday on January 15. It's described as a 90 minute hearing test. Another issue is that at the end of 2015, my medical insurance provider ended its partnership with the new doctor. The way I understand it now, I get this new test, then I'm on my own to search for a new doctor that is affiliated with my medical insurance. Unfortunately the search will be on hold due to my upcoming foot operation which I'll update in the other thread.

As for current symptoms, there's a low level humming sound in the left ear. It's funny because I always think someone's running a piece of equipment outside but I realize it's my ear :eek: The other symptom is it still feels plugged.

Gerbil,

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis for my feet when the accident occurred and that was back in 1990. So it's almost 26 years now. You bring up an interesting point and I will discuss that with my new doctor (whenever I find one). Only time I took steroids was prescription cortisone. One was an injection about 5 years ago in my right hand. The other wass only recently in an attempt to help the pain I have in my right foot. It didn't help. I've thought of Meniere's disease but nothing official yet.

Thanks for the prayers,
Ed
 
I was wondering if you had gotten any more information back yet, glad you posted :) . Modern insurance, yeah, fun times X.X. Been praying for you, will continue.
 
Long winding road dealing with medical issues sometimes. Thanks for the update, hang in there. Will pray for finding a new Dr.
 
I took a 2-hour audio test for my ears on Monday then immediately saw a specialist. Based on all the tests I've had since October of last year, the only official diagnosis is I have a vestibular weakness in my left ear due to an undiagnosed autoimmune disorder. He said there's no dehiscence or opening in the semicircular canal as originally perceived. At this point nothing can be done. However if I lose hearing again, then I need to return. The only symptoms that remain are the left ear still feels plugged and it'll make weird sounds every once in awhile :) The humming sound is barely noticeable. Tbh, I'm done with this. I'll just deal with the remaining symptoms. I have my upcoming foot operation to address now. Thanks to everyone for the prayers.
 
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